The Works of Thomas Paine, Secretary for Foreign Affairs

What it is

This is an 1797 two-volume edition titled The Works of Thomas Paine, Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the Congress of the United States, in the Late War, printed in Philadelphia by James Carey. It collects writings by Thomas Paine from the Revolutionary era.

Why it matters

The editor's note explains that this volume gathered many articles not found in other editions, though it could not include Paine's letter to George Washington because of copyright. This shows how Paine's writings were actively collected and circulated even in his own lifetime, with some pieces harder to access than others.

Look closer

• Why might the editor have had difficulty finding some of Paine's European publications?
• What does it mean that copyright law kept Paine's letter to Washington out of this collection?
• What does the title tell you about how Paine wanted to be remembered, as a secretary serving Congress?